Stove support



Nov. 12, 1940. c. EHRET 2,221,445

STOVE SUPPORT Filed Dec. 24, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ClementEhret ATTORNEY.

. Nov. 12, 19406 c. EHRET 222L445 STOVE SUPPORT Filed Dec. 24, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 2 jfliyo I N VEN TOR.

Clement Ehret ATTORNEY.

Nov. 12, 1940.

c. EHRET 2,221,445

STOVE SUPPORT INVENTOR Clement Ehret MXWZ Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to stoves and more particularly domestic kitchenstoves of the general character forming the subject matter of myapplication, Serial No. 203,760, filed April 23, 1938,

maturing into Patent No. 2,141,742, on December 27, 1938, of which thisapplication is a continuation in part.

This type of stove is characterized generally by the provision of astationary base on which a '10 stove body, comprising one ormore ovensand a cooking top portion, ismounted for vertical adjustment androtation with respect to such stationary base.

The present stove provides novel and eflicient means for raising andlowering the stove body withrespect to thebase and also means wherebythe stove body may-be rotated andlocked in any desired position ofvertical and rotary adjustment.

= Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will beapparent from the herein- -afterdetailed description and claims, whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate dif-- .25 ferent practicalembodiments of the invention, but the constructions thereinshown are tobe understood as illustrative, only, and not as de- "fining thelimits ofthe invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a stove embodying the present invention,with portions of suchconstruction shown in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 2--2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmental section taken in the plane of the line 3-3 ofFigure 2 with certain parts shown in elevation.

Figure 4is afragmental perspectiveof a worm operating splined shaftshown in the preceding views.

Figure 5 is an end View of one of the worms, internally splined tocooperate with the shaft of Fi ure 4.

.Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, but :showing amplifications inoperating means.

Figure 7 isan end view of the structure shown inI'Figure 6.

The stove of the present invention comprisesa stationary base I and astove body 2, the latter of which is rotatable and vertically adjustablewith respect to the base i. The base comprises an upstanding cylindricalportion 3 into which istelescopically received a stem-4 which, in theconstruction of Figures1-5, is rigidly and permanently secured-to thestove body. Referring to .thesedigures.in,particularpthenstem 4 iscylindrical in form and is provided with vertically spaced apart annulargrooves or channe1s5, the

spacing being substantially the same as the width of the channels. Theupper end of the cylindrical portion of the base 'is flanged outwardly,

asindicated at6, to form an annular chamber or seat in "which isreceived a ring gear I which bears upon the base of such annular chamberandembraces the stem 4.

The ring gear 1 has worm teeth in its'outer 10 periphery and carries, onits inner periphery, one

or more projecting keys 8, rigid. with the ring 1 gear, andthese' keysare adapted to work in shallow vertical keyways 9 out intothe'stem 4 sothat the stem can slide up and down through the ring 15 gear butisl'ocked against rotation thereto; Thus rotationof the ring gear willimpart rotation to the stem 4 and consequent rotation to the stove body2.

Preferably cast integral with the base l is aL20 housing ii theconformation of which is clearly apparent from Figures 1 and 2. Inthis'housing are located the various operating parts by means of whichthe stem may be selectively raised,

lowered and rotated. To provide for the vertical *25 adjustment of thestem, a shaft ii is journalled for rotation in the-housing l0 and hasaflixed thereto a pinion l2 adaptedto mesh into the grooves 5 of thestem 4 which, because of the formation of these grooves, constitutes, inefiect, 30.

a cylindrical rack. Through rotation of the pinion I 2, the stem may beraised and lowered and the cylindrical character of the rack permits ofrotation of the same with reference to the pinion I2. -35

Also journalled for rotation in the housing 10 is a worm shaft i3,capable of longitudinal reciprocation and on this worm shaft are mountedI two worms, indicated by thereference numerals i4 and i5. Theworm i4 isconstantly in m'esh flo with a subjacent worm wheel l6, fixed on theshaft ll which carries the pinion l2. Theworm 15 isin constant mesh withthe ring gear 7. The worms are in axial alinementand are confinedagainst longitudinal movement between the bear- 45 .ings in the housingand they are adaptedto be independently rotated by the shaft l3. Toperwheel or crank, the shaft I3 may be longitudinally shifted to engageits spline I1 with either the socket I8 of the worm I4 or the socket I9of the worm I5. When engaged with the socket I8, as shown in dottedlines in Figures 1 and 2, rotation of the wheel 20 will cause power tobe transmitted from the shaft I3, through worm I4 and worm wheel I6 tothe shaft II which, in turn, will transmit power through the pinion I2to the cylindrical rack and the stove body will be raised or lowered,depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand wheel. By virtue ofthe worm and worm wheel connection in this train, the stove will beautomatically locked in any position of vertical adjustment when thehand wheel is released and will remain in such position until the handwheel is manipulated to effect a positive adjustment in the mannerstated.

It is be assumed that the hand wheel has been manipulated to bring aboutthe desired vertical adjustment of the stove body, said body may berotated at the will of the operator by shifting the hand wheel from thedotted line position of Figure 2 to the full line position, in order toshift the shaft I3 to move spline I'I into the socket I9 of the worm I5.When the parts are thus positioned rotation of the hand Wheel willimpart rotation to the ring gearwhich, being keyed to the stem 4, willrotate the stove body in either direction depending upon the rotation ofthe hand wheel. When the hand wheel is thereafter released the wormwheel and ring gear will lock the stove body against inadvertentrotation.

It will thus be apparent that the stove body may be vertically adjustedor rotated at the will of the operator and, at the conclusion of eitheroperation, will be locked in position, so that it cannot inadvertentlyget out of adjustment.

The stove body will, in practice, be provided with appropriate ovens anda cooking top, with each of which are provided suitable burners or otherheating elements to which a suitable heating medium will be fed in amanner to be uninterrupted by either vertical adjustment or rotation ofthe stove body. The means for feeding this heating medium will varydepending upon jthe characterof such medium. For oil, gas or 4 3 otherfluid heating, medium tubular connections are'employed, whereas forelectricity, wiring connections are substituted.

For illustrative purposes I have shown provisions for the feed of gas,comprising a gas feed 'pipe 2| connected to telescoping pipe'sections 22and 23. Section 22 is rigid with the base while the section 23 is rigidwith the stove body and extends to the heating elements. Suitablepacking glands may be provided between these sections, but in any eventthey allow for the raising and lowering of the stove body, as well asits rotation, without interruption of the feed of heating medium.

The structure of Figures 6 and 7 embodies all of the parts thus fardescribed in connection with Figures 1-5, exceptthe handwheel and, inlieu of the hand wheel, there is substituted treadle arrangements forshifting the worm shaft I3 longitudinally and for rotating said shaft ineither direction. To provide for longitudinal shifting of the shaft,there is firmly affixed there- 70 7 of this collar are positionedrollers 25 carried by to a flanged collar 24 'andbetween the flanges thebifurcated upper end of a lever 26. This lever is pivoted at 27 to abracket 28 on the base and carries at its lower end oppositely offsetfoot tical adjustment or rotation.

downwardly by the foot, the worm shaft is shifted to the right to engagethe spline I1 with the worm I4 and when the pedal 30 is depressed by thefoot, the shaft I3 is shifted to the left to engage the spline with theworm I5.

The shaft I3 extends beyond the flanged collar and carries thereon aratchet wheel 3| and a pawl carrier 32. The ratchet Wheel 3I is keyed tothe shaft I3, so that when the ratchet is rotated, the-shaft is rotated,but the pawl carrier 32 is freely rotatable on the shaft. The pawlcarrier 32 has an upstanding arm 33 to which is pivoted a double actingpawl 34, rigid with its pivot spindle 35. This spindle 35 projectsthrough an arcuateslot in the housing I I] and carries a handle 36 bymeans of which it may be manually tripped over from the left handposition shown in Figure '7 to the right hand position in order that itmay be conditioned to operate the ratchet wheel 3| in either direction.The ratchet carrier has aifixed thereto, exteriorly of the housing, alever 3'! and secured to this lever isalso a pedal link 39 having a footpedal 49. The lever 31 preferably has an upturned end portion projectinginto readily accessible position and provided with a handle 38 wherebyit may be grasped and directly operated. The 1ink39 is guided at itslower end by a guide rod 4| slidably projecting intoa guide, 42 on thebase. By this means the lever 31 may be oscillated in a vertical plane,either by a hand directly gripping the handle 38 or by foot operation ofthe pedal 40. Downward pressure of the foot will depress the lever whilea spring 43 will elevate it. Through manipulation of the lever either bythe hand or foot as described, the pawl position of the pawl 34, whichmay be manually moved from one side to the other to control thedirection in which it positively operates upon the ratchet wheel 3|. I

It will thus be apparent that in theconstruction of Figures Sand 7 asingle treadle may be used to serve the dual purpose of verticallyadjusting and rotating the stove body, while additional foot operatedmeans selectively controls the delivery of power to bring about eitherver- If desired, however, I may provide independent means for rotatingand vertically adjusting the stove body and this means may be handoperated or treadle operated. For example, I may drive one of the wormsI4 by a crank, lever, or treadle, to obtain vertical adjustment and usean entirely separate crank lever or treadle to operate the worm I5 torotate the stove. In such case, the worms I4, I5 might well be fixed ontheir own individual shafts with the operating means connected to eachshaft. Likewise the vertical adjustment means of Figures 6 and 7 may beincorporated in a structure without including the means for rotating thestove body and, conversely, the means for rotating the stove body may beincorporated in a construction without providing the means forvertically adjustin the same.

In the forms of the invention which I have thus far described, the ringgear is keyed to the stem 4, so that there is a positive drive from thering gear to the stove body. I may, however,

eliminate the sliding key connection between these parts and line theinner periphery of the ring gear with friction shoes or some suitablefriction material, such as leather, fiber or the like, so that the ringgear will have sufiicient friction with the stem to drive the latterthrough such friction connection. The advantage of this arrangement isthat if it is desired to quickly rotate the stove body, it may begrasped and turned against the friction between its stem and the ringgear.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown in the drawings a gasstove, but I wish it understood that this invention is not limited togas stoves as it may be used for oil stoves, vapor stoves or electricstoves. Similarly, the shape of the base, stove body and other parts maybe varied within wide limits according to the taste of individualdesigners without departing from this invention.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood ascommensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. A stove body support comprising a base, a body supporting stemtelescoping with respect to the base and having a coaxial cylindricalrack, a ring gear supported on the base and embracing said cylindricalrack for rotation therewith, a pinion supported by the base and meshingwith said rack, a worm wheel rigid with said pinion, a pair of Wormsarranged in coaxial relation and meshing respectively with the wormwheel and ring gear and each worm having a clutch member, a commonoperating shaft extending through both worms and provided with a clutchmember adapted, through longitudinal movement of the shaft,to engagewith the clutch member of either worm selectively, and means forrotating said shaft.

2. A stove body support comprising a base, a body supporting stemrotatably supported on the base, a ring gear keyed to the stem forrotation therewith and for sliding movement with respect thereto, meansfor rotating the ring gear to rotate the stem, and means for verticallymoving the stem while the ring gear remains stationary.

3. A stove body support comprising a base, a body supporting membermounted on the base for vertical adjustment and for rotation withrespect thereto, a vertical rack carried by said member and rigidtherewith, an annular gear embracing said member for relative axialmovement and for rotation therewith, a pinion supported on the base andmeshing with the rack to raise and lower the member, and a pinionmounted on the base and meshing with the annular gear to rotate saidmember.

4. A stove body support comprising a base, a stove supporting stemtelescoping with respect to the base, a vertical rack on said stem, anannular gear secured against rotation to the stem with respect to whichthe stem is axially movable, a single operating shaft supported on thebase for rotation,, and means for selectively connecting said shaft tothe annular gear and to the rack whereby operation of said shaft mayrotate the supporting stem or vertically adjust the same as may bedesired.

CLEMENT EI'mET.

